hey there!

Big news! I officially have a beta reader now! I am really happy about it, so thank you so much disharandive98!

For you that means that it might take a little longer (2 days or so) depending on how much both of us have to do but I promise I'll be quick!

So much for that. As always, a huge thanks to all my reviewers:

WhatWhat123

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Eby Mikaelson

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Enjoy reading!

Chapter 14

The rest of the Friday's classes passed without further ado, unfortunately Math remained the only class Kol and Elena got to spend together.

During the break between 4th and 5th lesson, they met up, where she had kissed him only 2 hours ago.

"So, would you like to spend the afternoon with me?" Kol asked with a sweet smile.

They were sitting on one of the benches - or rather, he sat on the table as she leaned back against his legs.

Elena tilted her head back, smiling up to him. "I'd love to."

"How about my place? I think it's time to switch the storytelling to your life..." he said.

The brunette frowned. "Actually, since I invited you in now, why don't you come over? Less prying ears and eyes you know..."

Kol frowned. "You think the Salvatore's will leave you be? They're invited in too if I am not mistaken..." He said and of course he was right, as strange as it was, until last night there had been no place in town she had felt safer than in the Mikaelson home. However, after her weird encounter with Esther, she didn't particularly feel like returning.

Esther.

Her time with Kol had raised her into a state of oblivion and the Original witch had been wiped from her mind already.

"Yeah but as long as you're there...unless you fear you'll have your neck snapped again..." she answered with a playful smile trying to make it sound amused.

He shot her a mock death-glare. "I am quivering..."

"So, my place?" he continued in a normal tone.

"Uhm...I might have overstayed my welcome a little for the time being...don't you think? I mean you've seen Rebekah and Klaus and well it's his house as you've pointed out...", Elena tried to explain herself without revealing the true reason.

Neither Klaus nor his sister made her feel uncomfortable enough to stay away.

"That's nonsense. We'll be alone except for Nik and 'Lijah." He replied.

The brunette gaped at him. "What about the others?" she asked tentatively.

"Well, Nik has texted me that Mother and Finn have left in search of some witches. Bekah is still obsessed with your human friend so I take it she'll spend her time at the Grill..."

Elena nodded in understanding. Honestly, she had no problem with Klaus at the moment and considering this new constellation, an afternoon at their house sounded a lot more appealing than spending time at home.

Kol smiled at her sweetly. "Oh come on..."

With a heavy sigh, she nodded. "Okay fine. You're place, let's say 4 p.m?"

"You could just come with me after school... you know." He said.

She smiled playfully. "I could. If I had to stick around until 3.30 but as I don't...I'll just come by later …"

Kol shrugged. "As you wish...when do you finish today?"

Elena checked the time on her phone. "I finish in exactly...50 minutes!" She smirked.

"You know I could just skip the last 3 classes and take you out for lunch..." he proposed.

She looked at him as if she was contemplating his offer. "Sounds tempting..." she began,"but I have girl talk plans with Caroline, I haven't really talked to her since everything and she actually doesn't have to skip classes for it..."

Kol sighed. "As if I needed to learn anything..."

"Hey, it's your first time in modern high school..." she teased.

The bell rang.

"See you later, okay?" Elena stretched up to press a kiss upon his lips and he caressed her cheek.

"Of course love."

With these words they left for their next class.

During biology class she texted Caroline to confirm if they were having lunch. They were.

Later, they sat in a secluded booth inside the Grill eating club sandwiches and sipping coke.

Elena suspected something had happened between Caroline and Klaus but unlike former times, the blonde didn't seem too fond of sharing it.

"This is weird." She stated. "I mean we haven't talked for what - 24hours and it already feels like half an eternity."

The vampire nodded in agreement. "Yeah. Peaceful Originals screw with my head even more than angry ones. That's definitely weird."

"So... any plans with our favorite hybrid for tonight?" Elena asked curiously.

Caroline tried to shoot her an offended glance but failed miserably. "He's not our favorite hybrid - Tyler is!"

The doppelganger merely raised an eyebrow.

"If you say so. But you seemed to get along perfectly just yesterday..."

"We did. And that makes it completely awkward."

"Why? Because it's Klaus?"

"Yes. No. Argh, I don't know."

"How can I like him after everything he's done?"

"So you do like him. Be honest" Elena said.

Caroline sighed. "I think I do. Why does he have to be so goddamn charming?!" she exploded.

Elena realized her friend was just as messed up as she was. Maybe even more, after all Kol had yet to show his evil side and Caroline was still in some sort of relationship even though Tyler was currently out of town.

"I know, he is some kind of a mystery..."

"That he is!" the blonde agreed.

For a while they ate in silence, both contemplating the misery of their current happiness.

"So how is Kol doing? Damon already went on a rampage about how he abuses you for food..." Caroline asked casually.

The brunette nearly choked on her food although she had almost expected the Salvatore to twist this the way it fitted him well.

However her friend's attitude towards it really surprised her.

"He's fine. Damon should mind his own business, it's true that Kol drank from me but it was after I offered - several times." she explained.

Caroline nodded, ready to drop the matter again. "So I thought. Problem is that you are his only business in town..."

Elena thought about it and realized she was probably right. She hated how things had turned out that her life was the only thing that mattered to all these vampires. Stefan was the same - taking that his humanity was currently on.

Since when were they allowed to dictate her life?

Realizing that she didn't even remember anymore, she decided that it was time for it to stop. Damon and Stefan were no longer know-it-all gods that she looked up to in some way – like they always knew what to do.

After the entire Original business she came to see how small the Salvatore's were compared to the Original's and it certainly didn't make them brave to stubbornly stand up to everything the older vampires did; and come up with epically failing plans.

It really was time for her to take control of her own life again - starting with new bonds.

"I think you should find out what Klaus really wants from you", she said suddenly.

Caroline gaped at her friend. "Excuse me? Did you just suggest... I mean you of all people?"

The brunette smiled. She didn't know exactly where her change of heart came from; all she knew was that at this very moment she'd rather spend the day with Klaus than face Damon for even a second.

That probably said a lot about the events of the last days in this town.

"Yes, me of all people. You're right, he can be charming and I don't know about the others but your happiness seems more important than my grudges, so if you like him and he makes you happy, then why not?"

Caroline still had problems controlling her facial expressions. "Wait, wow. You're talking like he asked me to be his girlfriend...we only went to a ball together."

"And spent yesterday afternoon together..." Elena added with a smirk, "by the way, what exactly did he show you?"

A shy smile graced her lips.

Wait, Caroline - shy?

"He showed me some art, paintings etc...and we talked about what we like and he told me about a few things of his past."

Now it was Elena's turn to gape. She knew her best friend better than anyone - and when it came to boys, Caroline never kept a secret. She was way too excited and jittery to NOT talk about it.

However, in this case it seemed like this was all she was to say about her and Klaus. For now.

"Wow, you two really seem to match. I mean, ballroom dancing, paintings... is he some sort of collector?" Elena asked.

The blonde smiled and leaned in as to reveal a secret. Elena leaned closer as well.

"Actually I think he's more of a painter. I saw some of his work, it are amazing!" Caroline's eyes gleamed with joy. "But hush, if he knew I told you..."

The brunette nodded. "Sure. God Care, this is so great!"

Caroline shrugged. She didn't know what to think of how these events turned out for her. On the other hand she felt like Klaus' presence appealed to her like a drug. The more time they spend together the more she craved his company.

"I think you should meet him today..."

"You do? I don't know, we spent the last two days together...somehow..." the blonde sighed.

"And you liked it. Period. In fact why don't you ask him to come over. It will me more private and you can spend some time in uncharged territory."

"And leave more space for you and Kol, I assume." Caroline smirked. "But you're right. I refuse to make this any more difficult than it has to be."

Her friend laughed. "See? Now you've found the right attitude!"

She joined her friend and laughingly they finished lunch.

An hour later, Elena stopped by at her home to change into more appropriate clothing.

She didn't know what Kol wanted to do so she wore a black top with lace sleeves instead of her sweater.

While heating up some coffee-leftovers from the morning that seemed as if it was incredibly long ago, she thought about what Caroline told her.

It pained her to give the thought some serious credit but in the end it was probably true. Klaus was - apart from the killing and slaughtering - an ideal match for her friend.

In the little time she had spent at Klaus' mansion, she had seen a more human side to him; she realized that what Caroline labeled as 'charming' was really a personal respect Klaus showed her.

Elena knew that vampirism really became the blonde. Something she secretly envied her. But still ,she knew her friend all her life and whenever the neurotic, control-freak, project-master Caroline broke through the blonde, loyal cheerleader facade; it became difficult for any boy to handle her. Most of them were too caught up in their own teenage world to see what Caroline truly needed.

The brunette herself never had that problem with Stefan or even Damon for that matter.

Klaus was - despite his evil, crazy side - a man who could be whatever Caroline needed him to be. Bad boy, protector, soother, lover... If she was still pursuing her writing, Elena would have probably made a love story out of it.

No matter how lovely that idea sounded at this very moment, the fact that this dream guy was the person who sacrificed her aunt still needed some getting used to.

While sipping the hot coffee, she let her mind wander off, thinking of all the things she hadn't had time to process in the last 24 hours.

Temporarily, it occurred to her to talk to Kol about her suspicions concerning Esther but then she remembered the consequences she already had envisioned. Not an option.

Also, Yalene didn't quite want to leave her mind yet...the drawing kept coming back to her and after hearing most of her story, she could literally see Kol hugging her, trying to protect her from to misery she went through as if it was her own memory.

Inwardly she was dying to know what really happened to her but she knew even if Kol knew, it would kill him to talk or even think of it.

Although he would never admit it, he was far from being over it and it was almost 400 years ago. Almost half his lifetime and that meant a lot.

Out of a sudden, she jolted out of her contemplating state.

There was only one person who knew what happened back then.

And Elena just so happened to know where to find them...

Grabbing her car keys, she sprang up and left the house, driving straight to the mansion.

"Klaus...? We need to talk..."

So what do you think? R&R!

Much love!